MileSplit Best of 2008
For us here at MileSplit and hopefully the rest of the prep X-C and track and field world, 2008 was a year like no other. It was an Olympic year. A historic year. Simply an amazing 365 days.
It was a year in which we not only saw the prep stars that we cover on a daily basis qualify for the Olympic Trials, but one in which they announced their presence with authority.
It was a year in which we witnessed five new national standards on the track; six more all-time No. 2 performances were also recorded.
Pictured right in photo by Margot Kelly, Elijah Greer (OR) winning the 800 meters in a stunning 1:47.68, U.S. #4 all-time
It was a year where several cross country teams and athletes competed for the moniker of best ever; not to mention a myriad of other truly mind-boggling performances.
As the year draws to a close, we will be counting down what we felt were the 10 best performances of 2008. Today we relive the moment voted #7 by our staff and webmasters.
Wayne Davis (NC), pictured below in photo by John Herzog, winning the 55m hurdles in 7.08, U.S. #2 all-time
Front page photos by Tim Fulton and Pat Montferrat
#7
April 25, 2008 - Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) 4x800 relays runs to U.S. record 8:43.12 at the Penn Relays.
After amazing prelim results, the match-up in the girls 4x800m relay simply inspired.
After narrowly missing the U.S. record in 2007 of 8:50.41 (set by Boys & Girls, New York back in 2002), Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) (pictured left by Pat Montferrat) had a lot to prove. To add to the suspense, the squad was the defending champion.
Through the first two exchanges it was very apparent that Eleanor Roosevelt, Holmwood Tech (JA) and Edwin Allen (JA) were the three best teams in the field, breaking away by leaps and bounds.
At the anchor leg exchange all three were still packed together and the crowd was going wild. With Edwin Allen leading the pack of three, the anchors from Holmwood Tech and Eleanor Roosevelt looked relaxed. Then, with 200 meters to go, all three athletes really started moving, and into the homestretch they came.
Holmwood Tech pulled to the lead and ran to the win with thousands of Jamaican fans cheering them on down the homestretch. Holmwood Tech won in an amazing 8:41.92, while Eleanor Roosevelt earned a runner-up finish with a new American record of 8:43.12. Edwin Allen finished third in 8:44.75, while Manchester (JA) finished fourth in 8:56.78.
Dominique Lockhart (2:13.0), Amirah Johnson (2:08.6), Brittany Ogunmokun (2:11.9) and Tasha Stanley (2:09.6) made up the quartet that crushed the national record.
Pleased with the record, but noticeably disappointed with the runner-up finish, the team bounced back to win the 4x400. Stanley, the senior, cruised home with a 54.2 leg, crossing the line in 3:37.16, besting runner-up Manchester by over three seconds.
Stanley was the rock that held together the team all weekend long. Her 2:09.6 anchor leg in the 4x8 and her fantastic anchor leg in the 4x4 helped cement the greatest day of relay performances ever by a girls relay squad.
Tasha Stanley (ER's 4x4 & 4x8 anchor) Video Interview
Read more about Roosevelt's record-breaking day at the Penn Relays
#8 Hasay beats Chetelat, 9:52.13-9:52.51, 3200m, U.S. #2 & #3 A-T
#9 Christine Babcock US #2 all-time 1600/Mile